I know that NRMA have different cover to RACV, but I am not too sure on the differences.
I can tell you that I have used RACV for two major breakdowns and have been nothing but impressed with what they have done for me and my family. Mine covers me regardless of what and whose car I am driving or towing.
The first time that I used them I was driving my partners car back from Perth with her and my little one who was 6 months old at the time.
The transmission on the 4wd started blowing out fluid just out of Jerrmungup which is in the middle of nowhere. lol We rang RACV, they had the local mechanic check it over for a day (paid for a nights accommodation and dinner), when he couldn't work out what was wrong with it they organized to get us home. They booked the car on transport back to an auto specialist in wodonga (vic/nsw) border and booked flights to get us home. They paid the mechanic to drive us too the airport (200km away) as there were no taxis. When we got into Albany the flight to Perth was delayed by 12 hours, so rather than be stuck at an airport all day with an infant they organized a hire car for the day so we could drive around and explore Albany.
After the flight into Perth we had another flight into Melbourne and then from there to Albury airport.
Waiting at Albury airport was a hire car for us to use until the 4wd was repaired.
Two weeks later the car arrived at the auto specialist and the new hire car was returned.
The second time we used them was when we were driving home from Brisbane with the new boat. Get to Kempsy and the trailer ended up grenading a wheel bearing and trashing the axle. NRMA realized that they couldn't fix it without replacing the axle so out comes a towie.
Long story short as the first tow truck ended up being to narrow, a larger truck was sent out and some days later it ended up at home.
Because of the delay with the tow trucks, RACV paid for a motel in Newcastle for us and all was well.
None of this cost me anything more than my $200 cover payment. It is not based on use and will only go up in price with everyone else's when they rise.
We did end up working out a rough cost for the Perth recovery and it ended up totaling around $6000 if we had had to pay for it.
One of the conversations I had with a lovely lady at the call center I made a joke about not being allowed to renew my membership after claiming so much. The first response I got was "don't be silly, its what it is there for", the second sentence was " Also you have an average of 5 more claims a year to catch up to the grey nomads" lol
I would make sure you read what your covered for and then make a decision based on that.
And yes I would obviously recommend RACV.
Cheers
Evo
